The latest issue of Official PlayStation Magazine UK has the first gameplay details on Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2.

Lords of Shadow 2 is the end of the sub-series’ story and follows a less spoon-fed approach than the first game. Anchor points, for example, will be highlighted only if you ask them to be, and won’t show up at all on the more difficult stages.

The environment promises to be seamless for the sequel. Mission summaries have been replaced with teleporters, as seen in Koji Igarashi’s Castlevania games.

Bosses have seen a change. Battles are now longer and more varied when compared to the first game. It is unclear if there are boss battle checkpoints, however.

Players now have free control over the camera. If you choose not to alter it, it will behave like it did in the first game.

The previous game’s “Combat Cross” has been replaced with a new “Blood Whip.” Both behave similarly. The Blood Whip still has extreme range attacks that fill the screen, and you’ll stillb e stringing combos together from strong directed attacks and lighter area attacks.

“Magic” has been replaced with “Dracula’s Blood.” Blood doesn’t regenerate, but is earned through kills and skilled fighting.

Players can add to their “Focus” gauge by evading attacks and executing perfect blocks and counters. When the gauge is full, each hit will explode new blood onto the battlefield. If you’re hit, however, the Focus gauge will deplete.

Raw blood can be channeled into “Void” and “Chaos.” In Void, your weapon is a “Void Sword,” which allows you to regain health with each hit. In Chaos, your weapon is a pair of claws that can smash through enemy shields.

Dracula can glamour mortals to control them and let them evaporate into a mist, allowing them to slip by unseen or bypass grilles into secret areas.

Lords of Shadow 2 will also have some humor to it.

The team at Mercury Steam debated over including the following scene (it is still unclear whether it’s actually in the game): “While no one’s winking at the camera, when Gabriel Belmont wrestles a crucifix out of a Golden Paladin’s grip, informing the Brotherhood that he, Dracula, has been chosen by God, what follows is an ecclesiastical nuclear blast so large that the camera cuts to a shot of the planet.”

For more details and screenshots, pick up the latest issue of Official PlayStation Magazine UK.